Reese has two daddies

I’d like to introduce a new addition to the Hedonia family. Reese is a two-year-old spayed female. The SFSPCA had her listed as a Miniature Pinscher mix, but at the suggestion of the nice lady over at Noe Valley Pet Co., we think she may be a Manchester Terrier mix instead. She also came with the name Reeses, which we decided to shorten to Reese.

Reese was surrendered at the Manteca shelter by her previous parents for the grave crime of having too many puppies (in fact she’s still a little, um, uddery from her most recent bout of motherhood). I can think of a few courses of action to solve that problem besides surrender, but their stupidity is our gain. She’s our little horn dog now.

DPaul and I have been discussing getting a dog for a long time, and for the past few months have been ramping up in preparation. Given our lifestyle, and since this would be my first dog ever, we had some clear criteria for our dream dog: We wanted a medium-small rescue dog, not too energetic, with short hair, that doesn’t shed too much, isn’t barky or aggressive to other dogs and that has some basic manners and training. Why didn’t we just ask for a dog that types 40 words per minute and shoots bubbles out its butt, too?

We were patient and diligent, looking at dogs at a variety of rescues, talking to foster homes, doing lots of research. On Friday, we went to the SPCA with a different dog in mind, but decided to look at three small dogs once we were there. Reese was shy at first. She came to me right away, but from that point on hid behind the handler, tucking her ears back. Still, I knew from the first moment I looked into her sweet brown eyes that she was the one.

While we talked with a trainer, we got to surreptitiously observe
Reese interacting with another family that had come after us. By this
time we had already expressed an interest in Reese, so we had first
refusal. Outside the pen and away from other dogs, we saw her open up.
We had seen several dogs we liked at the SPCA disappear before our very
eyes, and we decided to act decisively this time.

Ask and you shall receive. Reese is in every way the dog we wanted.
She is loving and devoted, sweet and gentle. She loves rides in the
car, hanging out in her crate, playing with her squeaky chicken toy and
lots of belly rubs. While her original parents may have been clueless
about some matters, they clearly spent at least some time with her. She
still needs some training, but is way ahead of the curve compared to
what we were expecting.

Our first 24 hours with Reese were far from uneventful. In the
middle of her first night in hew new home, Reese became violently ill,
vomiting and defecating uncontrollably. We think it was a combination
of the change of environment and the new food we had given her that
upset her system so. She settled down eventually, and after a quick
visit to the SPCA clinic the next morning was on the mend.

As her health improved, so has her personality blossomed. By the
next night she was high-spirited and playful. And now her biggest
dilemmas involve whether to play with her squeaky chicken or flop over
for more belly rubs. It’s a dog’s life.

Lucky us, we managed to find the sweetest, smartest and most
beautiful dog in the world. And for you dog owners out there who
thought yours was, well, I’m sorry you had to find out this way.

Anita: As she is attached to our hip, that’s a given.
Brenda: Hell, *I* want her life now!
CC: We’ve already had our fill of things coming out of her butt. It’s more manageable now, but I don’t need bubbles on top of everything else.

Hi!
I just found you through your This Next profile. How exciting! A new baby! Congratulations!
I have a Manchester Mix, too. Is Reese snuggling under the blankets with you guys? My Cleo sleeps under the covers with her head on my pillow.
Of course I don’t spoil her!
You guys are in sooooo much trouble!

Gina: It’s a kind of trouble I’m willing to cope with … and we don’t spoil Reese at all. EVER. 😉
Shuna: I think food blogging and dog walking must be a wonderfully synergistic activity. Heaven knows so many of us are dogged.

hey, i’ve been reading your blog for a while now (my love for food and cooking led me here). congrats on the new family member, she really looks adorable 🙂
my girlfriend and I have been thinking of getting a dog recently, but unfortunately with us both still being in uni and not having much time it just wouldn’t be fair, really.
anyways, post more pics of reese while she grows up!
andie

Congrats to you two! Way to go with the rescue dog–I wish that more people would consider that option. My man and I have lost our babys over the last two years and our house just isn’t the same. I didn’t say that to bring ya down, we loved them for 12, 13 and 15 years! If little Reese is your first dog you are in for a surprise at how much a part of your life she will become. Next thing you will be posting is homemade doggie treats. Trust me, it’s coming!

Kevin: Well whether she’s a MinPin or a ManTer, by all accounts she’ll be in our life for another 12-18 years. And oh yeah, you can bet that, though this won’t turn into a dog blog, it just might turn into a dog food blog.
Jennifer: She is gorgeous, isn’t she? 🙂 In fact, Jennifer, you were a bit of inspiration. Your post on adopting Petra, not to mention the heartbreaking story of her recent escape and rescue, helped me get over my dog apathy and move me closer to accepting a dog into our lives.
Tea: We already are.

Ming, I resisted this for years. I was afraid of the commitment, the responsibility, who knows what. All I know now is that, mere days into it, I feel like she’s been a part of our life forever, and I can’t imagine life without her.

Oh, she is so sweet! How wonderful for you both! Hope she enjoys the dog biscuits — if you want to spoil her a bit, you can make them with beef or chicken bouillon, but I think they like them just as well without, although I’m sure the meaty addition will be enjoyed, too 🙂

Mom

This is my granddog and I just think she is lovely! I can’t wait to meet her in person. Of course this opens up a whole new world of shopping. Do I get her a pretty sweater? Does she like pink? Are diamonds in order? Well, maybe rhinestones.

Garrett: Yes, yes she is.
Nicole: Oh, to be sure there will be meat and stock involved. Since her illness she’s been enjoying a diet of poached chicken and white rice with chicken stock. But we have yet to find anything she *won’t* eat.
Mom: Sweaters are definitely in order — she doesn’t like being cold. Pink is not so good for her coloring, but she wears red very well. So maybe rubies …

Dolores: Are you calling our dog fat? J/K! I’m in your camp – I think the MinPins do have a wirier frame.
Sher: She hasn’t complained much yet … 🙂
Jenn: Bocce is super cute! We must have doggie play date soon.

Krista

Just found your blog while looking for recipies and applaud your adoption of Reese.
The unconditional love of a dog will make any household more vibrant. Maybe you could come up with some recipies that would be just for dogs ( with this food recall and everything). Yeah, I’m that girl, I like to cook for my dog 🙂